In the early hours of Saturday, a partially occupied three‑storey building housing the Equal Right Restaurant on its ground floor gave way on Oremeta Street in Lagos’s Ojodu‑Berger area, trapping an unknown number of people under the rubble. As of mid‑afternoon, first responders had pulled nine male survivors from the debris, though concerns persist that more may remain buried.
Residents said the collapse occurred at about 9 a.m., just as many were still observing Easter festivities. “I heard a thunderous crash and ran toward the building,” recalled bystander Femi Saheed. “When I arrived, dust and screams filled the air. It was chaos.”
Emergency crews from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, joined by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and ambulance teams, arrived within minutes. “We have rescued nine adults so far, all male, with varying degrees of injury,” confirmed Fire Service Director Margaret Adeseye, speaking through spokesperson Skahiru Amodu. “They were treated on site before being transferred to hospital. At this time there are no confirmed fatalities.”
Adeseye cautioned that unoccupied structures can deteriorate rapidly. “This building’s upper three floors had been empty for some time,” she noted. “When left unused, buildings lose structural integrity and become prone to sudden collapse.”
LASEMA’s emergency coordinator warned that rescue efforts would continue “until every corner of the rubble is cleared to ensure no one else is trapped.” Investigators from the state’s building control agency were expected on site to begin a formal inquiry into the collapse’s cause, though initial reports point to age‑related structural failure rather than active construction work.
Local shopkeeper Aisha Bello said the incident has left nearby residents rattled. “We pray everyone emerges safely,” she said. “No one wants to hear these screams again.”
As Lagos grapples with ageing infrastructure, the tragedy underscores the need for routine inspections and stricter enforcement of safety standards, particularly for long‑vacant or partially used buildings. For now, the community waits anxiously for updates on those still unaccounted for, and for clarity on the measures authorities will take to prevent a repeat of Saturday’s near‑catastrophe.
